Gabby Agbonlahor has delivered his reaction to the fact Aston Villa play Newcastle United in their Premier League opener in August.
The new Premier League season starts in difficult fashion for Newcastle United, who are looking to improve upon their fifth-place finish last time out.
Newcastle’s first game of the 2025/26 Premier League season is away at Aston Villa, a place where they have generally struggled in recent seasons.
The fixture list has not been particularly kind to Eddie Howe. The Newcastle United manager then has to prepare for a huge game against Liverpool at St James’ Park the week after.
While Newcastle have a good record on the opening day of the Premier League season, there’s little doubt it’s a difficult start.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor delivered his verdict.
Gabby Agbonlahor reacts to Aston Villa vs Newcastle United statement
The striker admitted it was “hard” to read too much into Villa’s start to the season following the official statement from the Premier League, such has been the competitive nature of their recent games with the Magpies.
Villa have a very strong record at home against Newcastle, winning all but one of the last six games at their place.
Newcastle, however, have won their last four games against Villa at St James’ Park. Indeed, home advantage feels important in this particular fixture.
Agbonlahor said: “It’s hard to look into, isn’t it? Because we’ve got Newcastle at home.
“We absolutely battered them at home last season, but they gave us a good beating at their place.”
Aston Villa already without key player for Newcastle United clash
Despite their recent record at Villa Park, there’s at least some good news for Newcastle heading into the game.
Emery’s side will be without first-choice goalkeeper Emi Martinez after he was sent off against Manchester United on the final day of the 2024/25 season.
Newcastle beat Aston Villa to Champions League qualification largely because of that. The Argentine missed the rest of the game as 10-man Villa lost at Old Trafford, meaning Newcastle’s defeat to Everton did not matter.
They qualified on goal difference despite losing at home to the Toffees after a dreadful performance.
Villa are a force to be reckoned with at home, though being without Martinez is a blow.
